Pressure regulating valve



y 21, 3 E. P. KELLIE 2,645,884

PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE Filed Dec. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

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July 21, 1953 E. P. KELLIE 2,545,884

PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE Filed Dec. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'.4.- :9 Eda/0rd fi e 1b Afforneqs.

Patented July 21, 1953 sTAr-Es- VPATENT'VUOFFICE 1 2,645,884 rnsssUnE REGULATING vALvE Edward P. Kellie, Detroit, Mich. A mmi n December 1,1 949,' -SerialNo.130,381

This invention relatesto a pressure regulatin valve and-more particularly to apressure regulating valve-which is useful in a refrigeration systemto preventoverloading of; the electric motor-compressor unit. f v w The invention contemplates apressure regulating valve which can be assembled in the suction line between the, evaporator and the inlet port of. the compressor to regulate the pressure on the motor-compressor unit which causes the motor to burn out. With my pressure regulating valve in the suction line any such abrupt. rise of refrigerant pressure in the suctionline will cause the valve to -mov'e toward;clOSed;po sitionand throttle the flowof gas through the suction line and thereby-reduce the pressure of the refrigerant at the inlet of the compressor so that the compressor will operate within-a safe load limit and any danger of the compressor being overloaded is obviated. My pressure regulatingvalve likewise operates'to prevent overloading of the compressor in the event that liquid refrigerant should flow from the evaporator through the suction line toward the inlet of the compressor.

.Myinvention contemplates a pressure regulating valve which is of simple structure, inexpenvsive to produce, and. efllcient and reliable in operation.

j ln the-drawingsi v I p 31g. 1 is a schematic showing of my valve asseinbled in a mechanical refrigerating system.

Fig. 2' is a section through my valveassembly showing the valve closed; J

valve assembly-with the auxiliary valve open so i that the gaseous flowthrough the valve assembly is restricted. Y v

vFig. .4 shows my valve assembly with both th auxiliaryand main valves open so that the flow throughthe valve assembly is substantially unrestricted. I Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, i

' will be seen that my valve assembly comprises a .15 Claims. (Cleo-) 45 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing my the following parts: Hollow body I, upper cap 2 having a screw fit withthe upper endof body. I, lower cap 3 having a screw fit with the lower end of body I inlet port connection 4, outlet'port connection 5, valve seat 6 fixed within body I on shoulder 1 an'dprovided with a central opening 8, main valve 9, auxiliary bleeder valve In provided with a valve stem ll slidably guidedin central axial bore [2 of upper cap 2, flexible bellows I3 provided with an upper bellows plate 14 and a lower bellows plate l5 provided with an integral flange l6 which is clamped between lower cap 3 and the lower end of body I. Sealing gaskets l1 and I8 are placed between the lower and upper caps and the respective ends of the body I. I

A push rod l9 extends through tubular insert '20 threaded into main valve 9. Push rod l9 has a substantial circumferential clearance with passageway 20 of theorder of one-sixteenth (1 s) of an inch so that there is never any physical contact between rod I9 and passageway .20.

The upper =reduced threaded end 2110f rod la is screwed into valve [0 and the lower reduced threaded end 22 of rod 19 is screwed into the head 23 of lower guide rod 24. Thus, the upper bellows plate 14 is clamped between head 23 and shouldered portion 25,0f rod l9. 1 A. sealing disk 26 of aflexible distortable Inaterial such as rubber, either natural or synthetic,

but preferably the latter, is mounted upon the lower face of valve H! and retained thereon by the upper shoulderedportion 21 of rod I9:and by ferrule 28 whichoverlaps the peripheral edge ofseal-ing disk-26 and has its upper edge spun over as at 29 to retain the same-onvalve ll].

, Guide stem 24 is slidably guided inaxial bore 30 of adjusting screw 3|. ,A button 3211s -fixed' on the upper end of hollow screw 3|. Compression coil spring 33 i mounted within bellows I3 and supported between shoulder 34-on button 32 and shoulder 35 on head 23. Compression spring 33 tends at all times to expand bellows [3. Adjusting screw. 3! has a screw fit with insert 33 for'thelower cap 3. A cover 31 has ascrew fit on insert 36.

Y A compression coil spring 38 is mounted between upper plate [4 of the bellows I3 andthe flange 39 of main valve insert 20. 'A

sealing disk 40 of any suitable flexible distortable sealing material such as rubber, either natural or synthetic, and preferably synthetic, isretained in place. between flange 39 and the lower faceoi' valve 9. A compression coil spring M is mounted 3 between the upper face of main valve 9 and flange 42 on auxiliary valve l0. and another com- -53 of the compressor.

pression coil spring 43 is mounted between flange 42 of valve l and the lower face of upper cap 2.

From the above it will be seen that guide rod 24, head 23, bellows upper plate |4, push rod I9, bleeder valve l0 and guide rod II are all fixed together and move up and down as a unit and coil spring 43 continuously urges this unit downwardly and coil spring 33 continuously urges this unit upwardly. The wall of. bellows l3. preferably is made of inherently resilient spring metal but it can be made of a flexible fabric. When bellows |3 is assembled within housing the pres- 1 sure within bellows l3 and between lower bel-" lows plate l and lower cap 3 is atmospheric.

In Fig. 1 I have shown my pressure regulating valve, which is generally designated 50, mounted in the suction line 5| of a conventional cal refrigeration system between evaporator 52.

and the inlet 53 of compressor 54 which is driven by a conventional electric motor. The outlet port 56 of the compressor is connected by line 56 with condenser 51, the outlet of which is connected into liquid receiver 58. Line 59 connects the liquid receiver with a meteringdevice 60 which can be any conventional metering device in the form of a restriction such as the well-known capillary tube restrictor, an expansionvalve, or a high or low side float valve.

In mounmng my pressure control valve50 in a mechanical refrigeration system the inlet connection 4 isconnected to line 5| leading from evaporator 52 and the outlet port connection 5 is connected to line 62 leading to the intake port A refrigerant is compressed in compressor 54 which passes through line 56 to condenser 51 wherein it is liquefied. A liquid refrigerant flows from the condenser into liquid receiver '56 and then through line 59 and metering device 60 into evaporator 52. Metering device '60 divides the high pressure side of the system from the low pressure side. Since the pressure in the evaporator is lower than the pressure on the condenser side of metering device -66, the refrigerant in evaporator 52 evaporates thereby abstracting heat from the compartment being refrigerated.

After it is determined whatthe maximum safe low side or suction pressure at the compressor shall bein relation to the high side pressure; cap

81 is removed and adjusting screw 3| is turned to adjust the pressure at which-valves-Qyand i0 willopen. Clockwise turning of screw 3| acts to tighten or compress springs 33 and 43 whereas counterclockwise turning of screw 3| decreases the pressure on springs 33 and 43. 6 serves to divide body into upper chamber 65 and lower chamber 66.

It-in the operation of the refrigerator a heavy heat .load .is placed upon evaporator 52 so that the gaseous. pressure in line 5| rises above the presponse to any pressure above the predetermined -maximum safe suction pressure at port 53, to close valve 9. Since the compressor 54 is operating, the pressure in chamber 66"wili fall now that Valve seat.

lows |3, which has been somewhat compressed, will, due to the fall of gaseous pressure within chamber 66, tend to expand and aid spring 33 in opening or lifting valve I0 off its seat 10 (Fig. 3). Spring 33 and bellows |3 upon expanding, act through push rod Hi to lift valve I0 011 its seat 10 and, in so doing, spring 33 is compressed and spring 4| is expanded. Valve 9 is floated about push rod 19 andin spaced relation therewith by the lower spring." andupper spring 4|. Spring 4| and spring 38 are of substantially equal strength but the gaseous pressure obtaining in chamber 65 acts upon valve 9 to assist sprin 4| in holdingithis valve closed.

' :into chamber and through outlet 5 to the invalves-is closed: so that the air within the bel- '15 If compressor from chamber 66 faster than it is bled into this chamber fromchamber 65, then valve 16 will open still'further due to the reduction of pressure-in chamber 66 until stem abuts the top of bore H which actsas a limltto the upward or opening movement of valve H]. with valve 40 fully open bl'eeder -orifice 20 is sized to suit the application and to handle orpass suflicient gas down to settingpressure to maintainsaid setting pressure at the compressor inlet. Therefore, pul-ldown will continue through bleederorifice 20 until evaporator -pressure approximates compressor suction pressure, then with pressures on-bcth sides -of valve 5 being practically equal; load on spring 38 has' increased-slightlywhiieioad on spring 4| has decreased during the opening of the 'bleeder, eausesmainWalVeB to 'raiseto the upper limit .and present unrestricted opening to permit the compressor to pull down evaporator pressure as low as is required 'to obtain'flnalcutoiftemperature. relation of thevalves'is shown in F-i gpi wherein gas flowing from chamber 66 through both passageway -23 and poi-t1 into chamber and this conditional the valves 3-.and |6-will.obtain as long as the gaseous pressure in'chamber 66 is at or below the maximum safe suction-pressure at-which it was predetermined to operate the compressor 64.

If liquid refrigerant shouldoverfiow-from evaporator 52through' line 5| "into chambers and 66, this refrigerant-will promptly evaporate and thereby cause a rise in pressure in chamber 66 which will act upon bellows-43' tocontract the same and drawvalves sand "I 3 down'upon their seatsto close off chamber 65 from chamber 66.

Here, again; as the-pressure in chamberii reaches the uies'ired predetermined pressure, then; bleeder valve llkwilhopen moreor lesaas above described, to maintain the predetermined pressure in cham- 'ber-.66. 'Ihus; in the operation'of my pressure regulating valve if the pressure in chamber 66 falls slightly below the predetermined suction pressure, their bloeder va lvefl alone will open toiadm'it more from chamber 65-into chamber {Silo-bring the-pressure up to'the desired maximum safe suction pressure at the compressor. tWhen pressure-in chamber 66' exceeds predetermined makimum safe pressure, valv 6 is pulled sharply and bellows l3 then lifts valve 10 until a balaneeisreached between outflow throu hp rt 5 and the inflow by valve 0 and through passage- -w|.- ydo to maintain the -desired-maximum safe *pressin'e in chamber 66 and compressor inlet.

This condition continues as long as evaporator pressure is above 'se'tting pressure. I The higher pressure inchamber 65 exerts downwardforce on valve 9 to keep it closed. Valve Ill-modulates to cause a' varying pressure dropth'rough orifice 20 so that as" evaporator pressure is-reducedand the density of thegas is correspondinglyreduced more gas is permitted to pass to maintain'setting pressure in chamber 66. 1 This process continues until pressures in evaporator, chamber and chamber 66 are equailzed, then valves springs wide open to permit unrestricte'd fiow of gas'from the evaporator to the compressori ThusEit will be seen that the modulating bleeder not only throttles to. hold back excess pressures for protection 'of compressor unit but alsomaintains the highest possible constant density of the gas to permit maximum efficiency at the compressor.

. As stated above, the suction pressure to be;

maintained in chamber 66 can'be'iraised or'lowered by adjustment of screw'flto vary theijtension or expansion force of spjnagjaa.

Iclaim: H,

1. In a. fluid pressure regulating valve of the type comprising a hollow body, divided-into first d nd. c am rs. an i let nt s enamber, an outletin thesecond chamber, anda port between said chambersfmeansfor controlling the fiow offiuid from said inlet to said outletfcomprising fluid pressure responsivemeans in theisecond chamber, a first valve for controlling the above said port, a second port in said first valve and smaller than said first mentioned port, a second valve for controlling said second port, a. connection between said second valve and said fluid pressure responsive means whereby said second valve moves with said fluid pressure responsive mean as said means moves in response to changes in fiuid pressure in said second chamber, and yieldable means for yieldably supporting and positioning said first valve between said fluid pressure responsive means and said second valve, said yieldable means acting between said second valve, said first valve, and said fluid pressure responsive means and urging said first valve toward closed position when said second valve is moved toward closed position and urging said first valve toward open position when the second valv is moved toward open position, whereby upon a rise in fluid pressure in said second chamber above a predetermined pressure said fluid pressure responsive means moves said second valve toward closed position and said second valve acts through said yieldable means to urge said first valve in a closing direction to thereby restrict fluid flow between the said chambers and whereby upon a fall in fluid pressure in said second chamber below said. predetermined pressure said fluid pressure responsive means moves said second valve toward open position and acts through said yieldable means to urg said first valve in an opening di- I rection.

2. The fluid pressure regulating valve defined in claim 1 wherein the connection between the fluid pressure responsive means and the second valve is a rigid connection.

3. The fluid pressure regulating valv defined port in said first mentioned valve whereby aclear- 'ance is provided between said rod "and. said .port.

5. The pressure regulating valve defined in claim 4 wherein said yieldable means comprises a-pair of coil springs positioned-on opposite sides of said first'valve and'meanson said first and second valvesand fluid pressure responsive means for centering said springs and first valve axially with respect to the second valve and fluid pressure responsive means. r u 6. 'I'he fiuid pressure regulating valve defined 'inc1aim'5'including axially aligned stems on said second valve and fluid pressure means and axially 'aligned -guideways in the ends Iof' said: valve body in whichsaidstems are slidably guided.

7 The fluid pressure regulating valve defined inclaim 6 including resilient means acting upon said second valve and urging the sametoward closed position. i I i 8. The fluid pressure regulating valve defined in claim? includingv resilient meansacting upon said fluid pressure responsivemeansgin a direction in opposition to the resilient means, acting upon I the said second valve.

9. Ina fluid pressure regulating valve of the ,typecomprising a hollow body divided'intofirst and second chambers, an inlet in the first chamber,;an outlet in the second chamber, and a port between said chambers, means for controllingfthe flow of from said inlet tosaid ouuet cam u ing fluid pr'essure responsive means in the second chamber, a first valve for controlling the above said port, a second port in said first valve and smaller than said first mentioned port, a second valve for controlling said second port, said first valve being positioned between said second valve and said fluid pressure responsive means, a rigid connection between said second valve and said fluid pressure responsive means, said rigid connection passing through both the above-mentioned ports and having a substantial clearance with the said second port whereby said second valve and fluid pressure responsive means move as a unit, resilient means between said first and second valves, and a second resilient means between said first valve and said fluid pressure responsive means, said first and second resilient means supporting the first valve between said fluid pressure responsive means and said second valve whereby upon a rise in fluid pressure in said second chamber above a predetermined pressure said fluid pressure responsive means moves said second valve toward closed position and said second valve acts through said first resilient means to urge said first valve in a closing direction to thereby restrict fluid flow between the said chambers and whereby upon a fall in fluid pressur in said second chamber below said predetermined pressure said fluid pressure responsive means moves said second valve toward open position and acts through said second resilient means to urge said first valve in an opening direction.

10. The fluid pressure regulating valv defined in claim 9 wherein the first and second resilient means are the sole means for supporting the first- .mentioned valve between said secondvalve and fiuid pressure responsive means.

11. The fluid pressure regulating valve defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second resilient means are axially aligned.

12. The fluid pressure regulating means defined in claim 11 wherein the first and second resilient means each consists of a coil compression spring.

13. The fluid pressure regulating means defined in claim 12' wherein the said coil compression 7 springs surround the rigid .connection between the fluid pressure responsive means and the second valve.

14. The fluid pressure regulating valve defined in claim 13 including axially aligned stems on said second valve and fluid pressure means and axially aligned guideways in the ends of said valve body in which said stems are ,slidably guided.

15. In a fluid pressure regulating valve of the type comprising a hollow body divided. into first and second chambers, an inlet in the first chamber. an outlet in the second chamber, and a port between said chambers, means for controlling the flow of fluid irom said inlet to said outlet comprising a resilient bellows in said second chamber. a first valve for controlling the above said port, a second port in said first valve and smaller than said first mentioned port, a second valve for controlling said second port, said first valve being positioned between said second valve and said bellows, a connection between said second valve and said bellows whereby said second valve moves with said bellows as said bellows moves in response to changes in fluid pressure in said second chamber, and yieldable means {or yieldably supporting said first valve in'said' position between said bellows and said second valve, said yieldable means acting upon said first valve and urging said first valve toward open and closed positions in response to movement of said second valv to- .wards. open and, closed positions, respectively,

wherebyupon a rise in fluid pressure in said second chamber above a predetermined pressure said bellows moves said second valve toward closed position and said second valve acts through said yieldable means to urg said first valve in a closing direction to thereby restrict fluid flow between the said chambers and whereby upon a fall in fluid pressure in said second chamber below said predetermined pressure said bellows moves said second valve toward open position and acts through said yieldable means to urge said first valve in an opening direction.

EDWARD P. KELLIE.

References Cited in the tile 0! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,953,603 Hardy 'Apr. 3, 1934 2,111,230 Toussaint Mar. 15, 1938 2,218,145 Clayton Oct. 15, 1940 2,237,215 Coney Apr. 1, 1941 2,351,190 Carlson June 13, 1944 2,365,650 Shaw Dec. 19, 1944 2,488,779 Olson Nov. 22, 1949 2,508,064 Hazard May 16, 1950 A FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 52,141 Denmark or 1936 

